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Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Sinola Cartel Members Arrested in Drug Conspiracy

CONCORD—Three members of the Sinaloa
Cartel were arrested on drug conspiracy charges after a three-year long
investigation, announced United States Attorney John P. Kacavas.

Manuel Jesus Guttierez Guzman, Rafael
Humberto Celaya Valenzuela, and Samuel Zazueta Valenzuela were arrested in the
port city of Algeciras, Spain, on August 7, 2012, by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the Spanish National Police. The arrests resulted from a
three-year long investigation into the drug smuggling activities of the Sinaloa
Cartel as it attempted to establish a market for cocaine in Europe and in the
United States. Law enforcement authorities also seized 346 kilograms of cocaine
that were shipped by the cartel as part of the undercover operation.
Authorities seized a quantity of heroin and methamphetamine in May 2012 in
Detroit, Michigan, that was tendered by the cartel as partial payment for costs
incurred in previously scheduled by aborted shipments of cocaine.

Also arrested in Spain was Jesus Soto,
an individual who was sent to Spain by the cartel to monitor the safety of the
shipment of cocaine.

Manuel Guzman is the first cousin of
Joaquin Guzman-Loera, also known as “Chapo,” the reputed leader of the Sinaloa
Cartel.

A New Hampshire grand jury returned an
indictment charging Guttierez Guzman and the Valenzuelas and others with
conspiracy to distribute 1000 or more kilograms of cocaine. The investigation
involved meetings with members of the conspiracy in New Hampshire, Florida ,and
the Virgin Islands at which the details of the drug distribution scheme were
discussed.

The United States Attorney’s Office for
the District of New Hampshire is working with the Office of International
Affairs and the kingdom of Spain to obtain the extradition of those arrested.
Each of the arrested individuals is a citizen of Mexico.

The case was investigated by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and the Boston Police Department with the assistance of
the Spanish National Police.

The public is reminded that an
indictment is a charge brought by the grand jury, and all defendants are
presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.